Upgrade Chances: The Definitive Thread
Jul 30, 2010, 7:21 am
#783
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Extremely slim chance then. ATL-SAN can be a tough route for Platinums, and very tough for Golds. I'd say it's very likely you won't clear unfortunately.
Jul 30, 2010, 7:45 am
#784
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 171
In my experience I find the best upgrade chances for that flight are on the 7 AM (too early for most people) and the 8:30 PM (but, there's no meal service after 8 :-( and the BE dinner is really quite a nice domestic service).
Here's what I do:
Since ALL BE upgrades on the JFK-->LAX flight occur at the gate, its pretty easy to tell the day before the flight where the openings are.
At booking I choose the flight with the best combination of Fare and Arrival Time to suit my needs. Then, the night before departure I scan for upgrade chances on all flights the next day and SDC into an alternate flight if the one I'm booked on looks doomed.
FWIW, As a PM, I'm 6/6 on my JFK/LAX/JFK BE upgrades, most on sLUT fares, and none on the red-eye or post 8 PM routes.
Here's what I do:
Since ALL BE upgrades on the JFK-->LAX flight occur at the gate, its pretty easy to tell the day before the flight where the openings are.
At booking I choose the flight with the best combination of Fare and Arrival Time to suit my needs. Then, the night before departure I scan for upgrade chances on all flights the next day and SDC into an alternate flight if the one I'm booked on looks doomed.
FWIW, As a PM, I'm 6/6 on my JFK/LAX/JFK BE upgrades, most on sLUT fares, and none on the red-eye or post 8 PM routes.
Looks like I picked the wrong day of the week for the 7am flight for Gold on a U fare.
I am flying JFK/LAX next Tuesday. EF is only showing 5 FC open as of this morning, but Monday and Wed is wide open. Oh well.
I do like your advice, I could SDC onto the JFK/LAS/LAX
Jul 30, 2010, 7:58 am
#785
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,221
The 9:00pm out of JFK is the easiest in my experience. The 7:00pm can be very tough. The 7:00am on weekdays tends to be tough but can be easier on weekends.
Jul 30, 2010, 9:02 am
#790
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
It sort of depends which PM flight. The one after 8pm is usually easy to upgrade, the one just before is quite harder. I have used PMUs on itineraries that include ATL/SAN in the past to be safe.
Jul 30, 2010, 9:15 am
#791
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAX - san fernando valley, CA
Programs: DL PM, Alaska Gold MVP, Expedia Elite Plus, Amex Reserve.
Posts: 1,156
I was upgraded on a t fare twice on this flight, both times have been on sat the earlies flight either the 6:15am when they had it early in the year, and 7am flight just last nonth.
Last month there was 1 empty seat left open for the flight.
Last month there was 1 empty seat left open for the flight.
Jul 30, 2010, 11:57 am
#792
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 668
The last JFK-LAX flight of the day (I think it's 9pm, not 8:30pm) DOES have a FULL BE meal service.
Jul 30, 2010, 12:12 pm
#793
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,221
Jul 30, 2010, 12:17 pm
#794
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 668
Jul 30, 2010, 12:24 pm
#795
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,221
Actually, for further clarity (including my own point for that matter), the only meal I would hesitate to qualify as a full meal are the red eyes, which service a sandwich.